Samuel Halpern

On April 22, 1912, during the third day of the US Senate investigation into the loss of Titanic, it was learned that there had been a steamer in sight of Titanic. This steamer had failed to respond to distress rockets that were being sent aloft from the stricken Titanic as she slowly sank beneath the surface of the Atlantic following a collision with an iceberg. The following day, on April 23, 1912, a story was printed in a small New England newspaper that claimed that a small tramp steamer, the SS Californian, had seen the lights and rockets of Titanic, and had refused to come to her aid. This book takes a new look into what has since been called the Californian affair. It is significantly different from previous treatments of this highly contentious subject in that it does not try to simply interpret or reinterpret every single word that eyewitnesses said in 1912. Instead, it takes a novel approach of applying specific analytical techniques to test the many conflicting and contradictory statements that were made in 1912 in order to find the reality of what took place. It includes detailed analysis of distances, bearings, headings, speeds, drift rates, ranges of visibility and other quantifiable information that has never before been examined in any great detail. It provides answers to the question of where was Californian relative to Titanic that night, and were they in sight of each other. This book also looks into the role played by several other vessels that were in the area that memorable night, delving into some of the claims made afterward concerning rescue attempts and movements. In addition, the book also explores the moments leading up to, and immediately following, Titanic's collision with an iceberg, piecing together a detailed moment-by-moment picture of the events and actions that took place from the time the fatal iceberg was first spotted, to the time that the iceberg was last seen fading astern into the dark of night.

Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic is a complete re-evaluation of the loss of Titanic based on evidence that has come to light since the discovery of the wreck in 1985. This collective undertaking is compiled by eleven of the world’s foremost Titanic researchers – experts who have spent many years examining the wealth of information that has arisen since 1912. Following the basic layout of the 1912 Wreck Commission Report, this modern report provides fascinating insights into the ship itself, the American and British inquiries, the passengers and crew, the fateful journey and ice warnings received, the damage and sinking, rescue of survivors, the circumstances in connection with the SS Californian and SS Mount Temple, and the aftermath and ramifications that followed the disaster. The book seeks to answer controversial questions, such as whether steerage passengers were detained behind gates, and also reveals the names and aliases of all passengers and crew who sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage. Containing the most extensively referenced chronology of the voyage ever assembled and featuring a wealth of explanatory charts and diagrams, as well as archive photographs, this comprehensive volume is the definitive ‘go-to’ reference book for this ill-fated ship.

On the 20th of September 1911 the White Star Liner RMS Olympic, coming out of Southampton Water, was making a turn to port around the West Bramble buoy in the Solent. At the same time, HMS Hawke, a protected cruiser of the Royal Navy, was making a turn to starboard around Egypt Point, a prominent landmark on the north end of the Isle of Wight. As the two vessels completed their respective turns they steadied on what appeared to be almost parallel courses with Olympic accelerating rapidly towards her full ahead speed for restricted waters. As Olympic drew ahead of Hawke, the much smaller cruiser unexpectedly veered sharply to port, as if her helm was starboarded, and struck the massive White Star Liner in her starboard quarter. As a result of the collision, both vessels suffered severe damage and had to return to port for repairs. As a result of the damages to Olympic, the maiden voyage of her sister ship Titanic was delayed from the 20th of March to the 10th of April while considerable labor, parts and materials were diverted to repair Olympic. That delay in Titanic's schedule later proved to be fatal. At the trial that followed the collision in the Solent, both sides blamed the other for the mishap. Olympic claimed that Hawke was an overtaking vessel coming up from behind, and as such should have given way to Olympic. Hawke claimed that Olympic was a crossing vessel, and having Hawke on her starboard side, was obligated to give way to Hawke. During the one-sided Admiralty hearings held in Portsmouth only two days after the collision, it came out that Hawke's helm had jammed at a critical moment just as an uncontrollable force seemed to pull Hawke toward the much more massive ocean liner. At the Court trial that followed in November, the Admiralty claimed that Olympic made too wide a turn around the buoy bringing her too close to the port side of the cruiser, and the suction created by Olympic's close proximity and excessive speed caused the cruiser to swerve uncontrollably to port thereby bringing about the collision. What really happened that September day in 1911 in the Solent? Was it a simple case of hydrodynamic suction or negligent navigation on part of one or both vessels? For the first time, the events leading up to this collision are examined in great detail, with the claims of both sides thoroughly analyzed to see what was possible and what was not. Based on all the evidence presented, a most likely scenario of what really happened in the Solent that day is presented showing the minute-by-minute movements of each vessel before and after the collision. Finally, the question of could the collision have been prevented is critically analyzed.

Samuel Halpern has written many books and articles on Titanic and often used the 1912 wreck report as a source of reference. It occurred to him one day how fascinating it would be if a team of dedicated, passionate and expert authors were to issue a modern-day report, with the knowledge we have today - what would such a report look like? In this book we have the answer. Sam has gathered a team of experts of write the ultimate Titanic reference book, with all the benefits of hindsight. Following the basic layout of the report, this team provides fascinating insights into the ship herself, the American and British inquiries, the passengers and crew, the fateful journey and ice warnings received, the damage and sinking, protocol and process of rescue, the circumstances in connection with the SS Californian and SS Mount Temple, and the aftermath and ramifications around the world. These experts offer the last words on the subject, 100 years on.